On the afternoon of June 22, the St. Charles North and East Drill Teams Kick-A-Thon Advisory Board held its 19th annual Kick-A-Thon Kickoff event at Fifth Third Bank Ball Park.

This event signifies the start of the Kick-A-Thon, a fundraiser in which both drill teams and community members come together to raise money for the American Cancer Society and LivingWell Cancer Resource Center in order to "kick cancer."

Many community members spoke at the event, including St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte; Molly Craney, 2012 St. Charles East Kick-A-Thon co-chairwoman; Charlie Kyle, principal of St. Charles East High; Kari Batka, director of the Kick-A-Thon advisory board; and Buck Drach, advisory board member and former St. Charles High School head football coach.

Among those who spoke also were varsity drill team coaches Hanna Byington from St. Charles East and Nancy Franson-Prentiss from St. Charles North, as well as drill team members Jordan Griffin (St. Charles East) and Allie Isabelli (St. Charles North). Guest speakers included Kaylee Riegler, whose sister recently lost her battle with cancer, Brian Ricketts and Ralph Dantino, both cancer survivors, and beneficiaries Chris Hensley, regional vice president of the American Cancer Society, and Nancy Vance, executive director of the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center in Geneva.

Following the event, 2012 seniors from the North and East Drill Teams presented a check for $40,101.16 at the introduction to the 2012 Relay For Life. The check was presented to Chris Hensley from the American Cancer Society while current drill team members completed 25 kicks to prepare for this year's Kick-A-Thon.

This year the Kick-A-Thon will be held Sept. 7 at St. Charles North in between the sophomore and varsity football games.